“TOOL BOX”

SAFETY MEETING

WINTER DRIVING PRECAUTIONS

MAIN POINTS

As accurate as weather forecasters try to be, nature has the final say and often
surprises us. We must be prepared for nature's curve balls, especially during winter
driving. Consider the following in preparation for this winter:

WARM CLOTHING

The best advice regarding clothing is layering. Dressing in layers gives you the option of
removing or adding pieces of clothing as weather conditions change. Clothing should be
loose fitting to allow your body heat to work best for you. Additional layers will further
prevent heat loss. Several fabrics have excellent insulating and waterproofing qualities,
Gortex and polypropylene being among them. These fabrics are designed to keep
moisture off the skin and to maintain body temperature. Lowering of the body
temperature in extreme cold can lead to frostbite, unconsciousness, and ultimately
death.

STAYING DRY

One of the keys to keeping warm is to stay dry. If possible, wear outer garments that are
water repellent (especially when chaining up and working in wet conditions), and
change any clothes that get wet. Wet clothes (cotton) tend to lose their insulating value
and cause shivering which lowers body temperature.

FOOD AND SHELTER

A winter survival kit is recommended for winter driving. This kit will quickly become your
best friend if you are stranded in your cab for more than a few hours. Items you might
consider include (but are not limited to) the following:

Food. Food that is high in calories and does not easily spoil is best, i.e., peanut butter,
honey, crackers, granola bars, dried fruit, nuts, etc.…

Shelter helpers. A can of sterno, candles, matches flashlight, and sleeping bag, would
make you more comfortable until help arrives.

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STAY CALM

Most importantly, remain calm and think clearly. Do not go out searching for help in
unfamiliar territory. This could lead to tragedy if you cannot find help and are separated
from your truck.

Remember, planning ahead for winter driving is extremely important for your safety.
These are just some guidelines to assist you in your preparation. You will need to create
a plan and survival kit that will meet your individual needs.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

(The following articles were written by Martin Lesperance a fire fighter/paramedic and
best selling author. Martin speaks across North America on the topic of injury
prevention. These articles address other important tips for winter driving.)

FREEZING RAIN

It was a rainy, March evening. We were en route to attending a multiple car pile-up five
miles from town. The roads were treacherously icy. We approached the crash scene
with extreme caution. Bystanders had lit emergency flares. We were just topping the
crest of the hill to the crash below, when two cars raced past us. They lost control,
crashing into the existing pile-up and adding to the mayhem. Three people were
seriously injured…One died.

Freezing rain can happen anytime from fall to spring. It develops when snow falls
through a layer of warm air, melts and turns to rain. The rain continues to fall and then
passes through a layer of cold air. The cold air, in turn, cools the rain until its
temperature falls below freezing. Oddly enough, the rain does not freeze. This is called
supercooling. When these supercooled droplets hits the ground, wire or branches, it
freezes instantly.

Freezing rain can cause power outages and millions of dollars of damage, not to
mention making the routine drive to work an adventure. Often collisions result, ranging
from slight fender benders to fatal, multi-car pileups. Hence, if you absolutely must drive
during freezing rain, it is wise to remember the following tips:

 Travel if only absolutely necessary. Allow yourself extra time for delays.

 Wait for the sanding trucks to pass, if possible.

 Use extreme caution when driving. When it is safe to do so, test the road surface
carefully by gently applying your brakes to familiarize yourself with the extent of the

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icy conditions. This will help you prepare yourself should you have to use your
brakes.

 If you come upon an accident, use extreme caution. Park in a safe area and use
your emergency flashers. Do not rush to offer assistance until it is safe to do so. If
you are near the scene, another vehicle could lose control and collide with the car
you are trying to help. Do not become a victim yourself.

We rushed to our second call of the morning. A man slipped on his front steps. A fall
down three steps had broken his neck and paralyzed from the neck down. This man will
most likely be on a ventilator for the rest of his life, all because freezing rain from the
night before had coated his steps with a thin layer of ice.

Ambulance workers know that the incidence of fractured hips, ankles, and wrists
increase during periods of freezing rain. People seriously injure themselves by falling
from their front steps, sidewalks, loading docks, and even from stepping out of their
vehicles. Remember that a fall down a few stairs or a slip on a sidewalk can result in an
injury that can kill you, or paralyze you for life. So the next time you know there is
freezing rain out there, remember: It doesn’t take a fall from a great height to cause a
serious injury.

BLIZZARDS ARE COLD AND BLIZZARDS CAN KILL

A lady was driving her car in a blizzard in a national park. Unfortunately she lost control
of her vehicle because of the poor road conditions and the vehicle rolled down an
embankment. She was only a few meters from the highway but the fractured leg and
arm she received prevented her from exiting the vehicle.

Her car was spotted by a grader operator who was plowing the road the next day. When
the operator checked on the woman, she was dead. She had frozen to death.

For most of us living in Canada, blizzards are a part of life. We grew up with them. But
every year blizzards and excessive cold in Canada claim more than 100 lives. This is
more than the combined total from hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, extreme heat and
lightning.

In Canada, blizzards are most common in the southern prairies, Atlantic Canada and
the eastern Arctic. Just as you would treat a tornado with respect, blizzards deserve the
same respect. Many of us will hear of a blizzard warning but carry on as if there weren’t
any danger.

A blizzard involves snow, strong winds, cold temperatures and reduced visibility due to
the blowing snow. This can create a deadly combination.

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While working for a winter driving a snowplow, we were doing a sweep along Jasper-
Banff highway before closing the road due to a blizzard. We came across a man who
had lost control of his vehicle and hit the ditch at 8 PM. There was very little traffic.
When we came across him, he was very happy to see us. He had been there for at
least two hours. He was dressed in summer loafers, dress pants and a light fall jacket.
He had no mitts, toque, shovel or any other type of survival gear and he was almost out
of gas. This man could have been in a very serious situation. He was not prepared for
the conditions.

Being prepared for a blizzard can make life so much easier for you and your family. In
fact, it can save your life. Let’s keep these precautions in mind:

 Blizzards are a very serious weather condition worthy of caution.

 Don’t travel unless it’s absolutely necessary. If you must travel, call the local
authorities to see what condition the roads you are planning to travel are in. Monitor
their condition on the radio. Always travel with a full tank of gas, extra warm clothes
including winter boots, mitts and a sleeping bag.

 Also carry a shovel, tire chains, road flares, a bag of sand, an emergency food pack,
booster cables, matches and a lighter, a candle, flashlight, fire extinguisher, a
hatchet or axe.

 If you get stuck in a blizzard, stay in your car, run it for 10 minutes with the heater on
then shut it off. You don’t want to waste gas. Make sure you keep the exhaust pipe
clear of snow and keep a window open on the leeward (downwind) side of the
vehicle. This will help ventilation and reduce the chance of carbon monoxide
poisoning.

 If you run out of gas, plan to build a snow shelter. A candle will not give you enough
warmth to survive in a vehicle that is made of two tons of steel and glass in -30C.
Your vehicle will quickly turn into one large icebox. You have to be prepared before
leaving the house in order to do this.

You must be prepared if you are going to travel!

The fact that you are not planning on traveling does not mean you shouldn’t take
precautions. You should still stock up on items for the house. Fuel oil, food, medications
diapers for the kids, milk and other necessities cannot only make you more comfortable,
they can save your life.

Source - Environment Canada. Check out their website at www.ec.gc.ca .

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DISCUSSION

 Any comments on what we have discussed so far?

 Any announcements?

 Does anyone have any other suggestions for winter driving? i.e. keeping a cell
phone in the car, have your summer tires removed before unexpected snow falls,
etc.

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